Victor Claver is thankful to PAO fans for booing him, explains Vezenkov's explosion / News - Basketnews.com

Victor Claver talked to BasketNews about how an almost-done deal with Panathinaikos broke down in 2016, Giorgos Bartzokas' role in the case, and explains how Sasha Vazenkov has become EuroLeague's most dominant power forward.

Credit: Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

In mid-September 2016, Panathinaikos Athens hosted the 'Diamonds are forever' tournament at OAKA. It was meant to be Dimitris Diamantidis' farewell party, whereby the Greens had invited three EuroLeague powerhouses in CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Victor Claver

MIN:14.93PTS:2.78 (47.83%)REB:3.11As:0.56ST:0.44BL:0TO:0.56GM:9ProfileEuroLeague2023/2024

In the tournament's opening game featuring CSKA and Barcelona, the local crowd made its intentions and feelings clear. When Barca players took the court for the teams' presentation, Juan Carlos Navarro saw PAO fans welcome him with rare applause.

Barca's captain was surprised and pleased by the reactions, although - as he correctly predicted - things would be different in his following visits.

Even Giorgos Bartzokas, the newly-hired coach of FC Barcelona, and Stratos Perperoglou, who had played for PAO between 2007 and 2012 before moving to Olympiacos Piraeus, got mixed reactions when their names were announced.

Some applauded, others booed more passionately, especially in the case of the former Olympiacos Piraeus' tactician who was coming off a season of triumph with Lokomotiv Kuban.

Where Panathinaikos' scarce crowd didn't appear divided was when Victor Claver showed up.

Not because of the team he chose to play for but mainly because of the team he had turned down some months before. Claver was one of Loko's stars in their phenomenal 2016 EuroLeague run that saw the Russians reach their first-ever Final Four.

That summer, Panathinaikos decided to go for a rebuild. They signed Mike James, Chris Singleton, and Giannis Bourousis, who were all coming off career-best seasons back then.

Almost out of nowhere, Victor Claver's name came up. Panathinaikos' initial plan was to sign either Bourousis or Claver, but since the Spaniard was available, the Greens made a strong push for him, offering over 1 million euros per year.

Victor Claver

Team:Valencia BasketPosition:SFAge:35Height:207 cmWeight:107 kgBirth place:Valencia, SpainProfileNewsStatistics

An ally of Panathinaikos was the high buyout that Valencia Basket claimed, as they retained the player's rights in Spain. That meant that any Spanish team willing to sign Claver had to reach a deal with his former club.

When Barcelona and Real Madrid made their first attempt, Valencia came back asking for 3 million to release the player's rights.

Panathinaikos weren't subject to those limitations, and when they knocked on Claver's door, the deal seemed to be a matter of time. Claver asked for some time to think about it, but - according to most reports - the deal was almost done.

Then, Barcelona decided to make another push. They submitted a 2 million offer to Valencia, which the 'taronja' accepted. Claver, author of 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 31 EuroLeague games in 2016-17, signed a three-year deal with the Catalan side and re-joined forces with coach Giorgos Bartzokas.

Credit ACB

Panathinaikos moved on and signed a guard-forward in KC Rivers instead. But Claver's decision made him the most unwanted man in OAKA for at least two days, as long as the tournament was being held.

His refusal didn't go down well with fans who were dreaming about PAO having a roster capable of winning everything.

Every time Claver, 28 at the time, touched the ball, fans booed him. After the game vs. CSKA, the Spanish forward left the OAKA locker room, escorted by a police officer in case reactions went too far.

Six years on, Victor Claver laughs whenever someone reminds him of the whole scene at OAKA.

"It was a strange situation," he recalled talking to BasketNews a few weeks ago.

"But at the same time, it was a gesture of praise because they showed that they really wanted me there. I received many messages from PAO fans for a week, and that energy made me want to play there. But in a few hours, everything can change."

Judging from their reactions, Panathinaikos' fans never forgave Claver for choosing Barca. But it seems that even the player has made some second thoughts about turning the Greens down.

Claver isn't so sure he made the right decision in July 2016, when several EuroLeague teams (David Blatt's Darussafaka included) were vying for his signature.

"I don't know if people eventually understood it or not, but I would have liked to live in Greece and play for PAO. Well, that would have been a real experience," he admitted.

"Playing in front of a different fanbase than the one I had experienced before was one of the main reasons. In Greece, the basketball experience is different. It would have been a challenge for me," he explained.

Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

One of the main deal-breakers was no other than former and current Olympiacos' coach, Giorgos Bartzokas, who essentially talked Claver into moving to Barcelona.

"The truth is that we were close, but then Bartzokas came to Barcelona, and the picture changed overnight," the 34-year-old forward continued.

"The season in Loko was undoubtedly one of my best years. I partly owe it to him. It was a moment in my career when few people believed in me. He was the one who took a chance on me, and the truth is I'll always be very grateful for that," he stressed.

Credit Stanislav Krasilnikov/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

So, when the time came for Claver to decide where to play next, his former coach provided an extra reason. However, the timing was everything.

"I think that had he come to the team a bit later, it would have been too late. My first option was PAO before Barcelona entered the picture," the Spanish forward clarified.

Barcelona and Bartzokas didn't stay together for long, as the Greek coach and the club parted ways in 2017. He then joined Khimki, Claver's ex-team, before returning to Olympiacos in 2020.

One would expect Bartzokas to look for Claver's services once he landed in Piraeus. But that wasn't the case.

"I didn't receive any offer from Olympiacos because I was under contract with Barcelona," the Valencia-born athlete said.

Credit LiveMedia/Stefanos Kyriazis

"Bartzokas is a good person," Claver added.

"I think he gives his players all the information they need. That's very important. He's a coach who gives his players confidence so they can develop their talents."

One of the players that have blossomed under 'Coach B' is Sasha Vezenkov. The Bulgarian forward is recording incredible numbers, which may grant him the EuroLeague MVP award at the end of the season if he can keep it up.

Claver and Vezenkov co-existed at Barca for two seasons (2016-18), and the former Blazers forward thinks nothing is surprising about how his ex-teammate has evolved.

"When he signed with Barcelona (in 2015), it was because the club had already seen his potential," Claver said.

"He indeed lacked continuity within the team to be able to develop his talent. He came in when Xavi Pascual was in charge. Then came Bartzokas and Sito Alonso. The coaching changes didn't help him."

Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

However, Vezenkov has been able to raise his stock and improve from one season to another while in Piraeus.

But at Olympiacos, he's playing at home and feels at ease with a coach who allows a player of his talent some much-needed freedom in his game. He looks happy, and I'm very glad about it."

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